By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji
Global markets
- Asian shares flat
- Fed widely expected to hike interest rates
- Investors await outcome of Alabama Senate election
Oil markets
- Oil recovers on big U.S. crude stock drawdown
- U.S. crude stocks fall by 7.4 mln bbls – API
- U.S. gasoline, distillate stocks increase – API
Precious metals
- Gold prices nearly flat ahead of Fed meeting outcome
- Spot gold was steady at $1,243.10 an ounce (0051GMT), after marking its lowest since 20 July at $1,235.92 in the last session
- U.S. gold futures were up 0.3 pct at $1,245.40
Key African events or data releases today
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- 0800GMT South Africa Inflation rate (Nov-17) (est. 4.7% yy, prev. 4.8%) [fcst: 4.9%]
- 0800GMT South Africa Inflation rate (Nov-17) (est. 0.2% mm, prev. 0.3%) [fcst: 0.4%]
- 1100GMT South Africa Retail sales (Oct-17) (est. 5.2% yy, prev. 5.4%) [fcst: 5.3%]
- Uganda interest rate decision (prev. 9.5%) [fcst: 9.5%]
Key African events or data releases yesterday
[Posted & commented on some headlines below at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- France-based Miner AMR starts bauxite production in Guinea
- Afreximbank pledges up to $1.5 billion to post-Mugabe Zimbabwe
- Nigeria court drops most corruption charges against Senate president
- Nigeria central bank injects $210 mln into currency market
- EU pushes to curb Africa migration more, still split on hosting refugees
- Guinea allowed $650 mln in non-concessional loans under IMF programme
- Liberia to hold run-off vote on Dec. 26
- Amnesty says EU is complicit in violations of migrant rights in Libya
- South Africa’s Transnet hires banks for US dollar bond
- Moody’s says challenging operating conditions keeps 2018 outlook for Africa banks negative
- Namibia’s economic growth seen contracting in 2017 – IMF
- South Africa’s Zuma rejects reports his office is drafting emergency laws
- Zimbabwe voters need more time to register after turmoil – parties
- South Africa’s nearly man Ramaphosa may lead country at last
- “Fierce and formidable” Dlamini-Zuma eyes South Africa’s presidency
- Tight race as South Africa’s ANC prepares to elect Zuma successor
- One Planet summit turns to private sector for climate action
- Major Nigeria oil union to meet government before planned strikes
- Namibia’s economic growth seen at 4 pct in 2019/20 financial year – IMF
- Mauritius central bank names Googoolye new governor
- IMF says Sudan must float currency to boost growth, investment
- South Africa’s revenue agency concerned about falling tax compliance
- Libya’s Nafusa Oil operations hoping to pump 10,000 bpd in Ghadames basin
- Nigeria plans to repay $647 mln T.bills, yields drop
- Unfazed by OPEC, Libya and Nigeria seek to boost oil output
- South Africa’s October manufacturing output up 2.2 pct y/y
- Cholera resurges in Zambia capital Lusaka, WHO says
- Botswana’s 2017/18 budget in surplus at half-year mark
- Yields mixed in weekly South Africa government bond auction
- South Africa’s trade department, company regulator to probe Steinhoff
- Zimbabwe’s Mugabe flies to Singapore, first trip since ouster
N.B
Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters
